2008 Space Grey M3

[2.2_Coupe]

I'd had the Z4 since March, and initial niggles aside, I was really enjoying the drive.
I didn't feel the need to do much to it, and for the most, it was all I really wanted.
However.
I became convinced the car was cursed - no one ever saw it, to the degree that I've hours of dashcam near misses, hours. I needed a change.
Now that im back home on the farm, I don't have big overheads anymore, and figured I could carry fuel, insurance, and maintenance to something saucier. Something with an AMG badge, or an M badge.
The AMG route I quickly dismissed as anything I really wanted, still had a long way to go before bottoming out, and everything older didnt really tick the boxes. M car it was.
I reeeeeeeally wanted a DCT car, as I love my Girlfriends DSG Cupra 290, but in the back of my head I knew manual made a better proposition in the long term, and for resale.

I'd had a nosey at a few, but kept coming back to this one, as the spec was everything I wanted, nor was it black, or white for that matter:

Transmission	Manual
Colour	SPACEGRAU METALLIC (A52)
Upholstery	ERW.LE.NOVILLOH1 PALLADIUMSILBER (NDH1)

S428A​	Warning Triangle And First Aid Kit​
S441A​	Smoker Package​
S490A​	Adjuster Backrest Width​
S4MXA​	Int Strips Alu Shadow Linear Polished​
S431A​	Interior Mirror With Automaticdip​
S459A​	Seat Adjuster Electric With Memory​

S609A​	Navigation System Professional​
S620A​	Voice Control​
S644A​	Preparation F Mobile Phone W Bluetooth​
S694A​	Provisions For BMW 6 CD Changer​
S6FLA​	USBAudio Interface​

S508A​	Park Distance Control PDC​
S521A​	Rain Sensor​

S563A​	Light Package​
S502A​	Headlight Cleaning System​
S522A​	Xenon Light​
S534A​	Automatic Air Conditioning​
S540A​	Cruise Control​

S223A​	Electronic Damper Control EDC​
S2MDA​	M Drive​
S2MTA​	BMW LA Wheel Dual Spoke 220​
S2PAA​	Wheel Bolt Retainer​

S302A​	Alarm System​
S313A​	Foldin Outside Mirror​
S850A​	ZUSAETZL TANKFUELLUNG EXPORT​
S863A​	Retailer Directory Europe​
S877A​	Delete Crosspattern Operation​
S880A​	Onboard Vehicle Literature English​
S8S2A​	Coding Alarm Signal​
S8S3A​	Automatic Locking When Driving Off​
S8SMA​	Car Ident Number Visible From Outside​
S8SPA​	Control Unit COP​
S853A​	Language Version English​

S775A​

Headlining Anthracite​

S1CAA​	Selection Of COP Relevant Vehicles​
S1CBA​	CO2 Package​
S1CDA​	Brake Energy Regeneration​
L812A​	National Version England Ireland​

I had the option on wheels, but opted for how she sits, as Im not a fan of the diamond cuts. The big seller to me was an immaculate carbon roof, which I just love, along with the mirrors. The M-Performance exhaust might have helped too.

So far (and probably about the extent of it), I've done the kidney grilles, updated the M3 badge to a later spec, changed the boot spoiler, and fitted my plates, and LED angels

All I'll really be at now is a serious, serious amount of correction, detailling, and maintenance.
I love it!

 

[Woodcutter]

That is absolutely awesome, without doubt one of the best V8 engines ever made!

Congrats.

 

[Gaz]

Looks great, they are one of the last high-revving M cars so definitely nice to tick off the list! Thoroughly enjoyed mine. The grey and black combo is very nice

 

[dempster__]

Lovely car and takes the space grey, although I may be a bit bias

 

[Jonny]

Lovely, health to enjoy it

 

[AlpineF30]

Welcome to the E92 club

Absolutely love those wheels

 

[dddrrift]

black grills would suit that maybe?

 

[Carson]

That looks well, they really are an amazing machine. I loved mine!

 

[Marc]

Just realised that plate used to be on a Z4 and I have sat beside it numerous times on the M2 carpark around 8am in the mornings

Did you have an exhaust on the Z4? Always sounded great.

 

[Todd]

Very nice! Health to enjoy.

 

[mcmurray]

Carbon plates and plate surround wouldn't be my thing but lovely car.

One of my favourite colours in them.

 

[MarkM]

Those wheels really suit it, plate surrounds aren’t for me either but lovely car

 

[2.2_Coupe]

Just realised that plate used to be on a Z4 and I have sat beside it numerous times on the M2 carpark around 8am in the mornings

Did you have an exhaust on the Z4? Always sounded great.

Yup that would have been me! M-Performance one just!

Carbon plates and plate surround wouldn't be my thing but lovely car.

One of my favourite colours in them.

The surrounds are hiding a multitude of sins underneath, caused by the previous owner running...... plate surrounds lol!

They'll do till I get the car into paint at some stage

 

[2.2_Coupe]

Minor update - I had two spare days so threw the car into the shed for decontamination, a minor correction (its hateful working in this cold), and a carbon splitter, thanks to Steven.

A previous owner, has at some stage botched a coating, and I'm hell bent to get it off now. Wet sanding seems the only answer, having destroyed my wool pad doing the roof and the bonnet. I was trying to go 'gently gently' at it, but needs must.

Before putting it in the shed I fitted the splitter, i'm pretty happy with it.

Next up was decontamination, I wasn't disappointed!

I hit the Bonnet, roof and bootlid on day one, doing passes with megs 105 on a wool pad, its still far from perfect, but it'll get me into spring time before going back at it again.

There still appears to be a fair bit of meat on the bone, going by the orangepeel, but I'll go to Ray's and have him depth guage the car before the next stage.

The sides weren't as bad, so switched down to a megs MF pad, while still using 105

I really need to get ripped into the glass next, they're beyond dirty, to the stage I'd consider machining the front and rear , sure, what else would you be at!

I got a low battery warning, it's cold enough, and old enough, that I'm considering just straight up replacing it, rather than throwing it on a conditioner. Plus ECP and their never ending DFS style sale, means I can scoop 9L of 10w60 when I'm at it.

 

[AlpineF30]

Minor update - I had two spare days so threw the car into the shed for decontamination, a minor correction (its hateful working in this cold), and a carbon splitter, thanks to Steven.

A previous owner, has at some stage botched a coating, and I'm hell bent to get it off now. Wet sanding seems the only answer, having destroyed my wool pad doing the roof and the bonnet. I was trying to go 'gently gently' at it, but needs must.

Before putting it in the shed I fitted the splitter, i'm pretty happy with it.

Next up was decontamination, I wasn't disappointed!

I hit the Bonnet, roof and bootlid on day one, doing passes with megs 105 on a wool pad, its still far from perfect, but it'll get me into spring time before going back at it again.

There still appears to be a fair bit of meat on the bone, going by the orangepeel, but I'll go to Ray's and have him depth guage the car before the next stage.

The sides weren't as bad, so switched down to a megs MF pad, while still using 105

I really need to get ripped into the glass next, they're beyond dirty, to the stage I'd consider machining the front and rear , sure, what else would you be at!

I got a low battery warning, it's cold enough, and old enough, that I'm considering just straight up replacing it, rather than throwing it on a conditioner. Plus ECP and their never ending DFS style sale, means I can scoop 9L of 10w60 when I'm at it.

Fantastic job so far. Just a heads up if you replace the battery you’l need to get it coded to the car so it knows a new battery is installed due to the Intelligent Battery Sensor

 

[Gemma]

Welcome to the E92 club

 

[ALN]

Nice car and I like that style of splitter. Would be tempted

 

[2.2_Coupe]

Fantastic job so far. Just a heads up if you replace the battery you’l need to get it coded to the car so it knows a new battery is installed due to the Intelligent Battery Sensor

The coding is ok - opening my wallet again this month, not so ok

 

[2.2_Coupe]

I little bit more light maintenance while I gather parts for the rod bearing job.

Battery was a success after a night on the Ctek - at least thats some money saved for the moment:

I treated the interior to some Angelwax Hide-rate (thankfully dries matte)

The aircon and vent system was a bit smelly, so changed out the cabin filters and do a K2 Klima Doktor clean:

I checked the air filter too:

I figured while I was at it, I'd 'upgrade' to a BMC

Hopefully I'll be able to have assembled a set of ACL bearings, ARP bolts, and sump gasket, by the end of the month. I'll do the diff and gearbox oil too no doubt.

Other than that i'm just keeping it clean

 

[chrisdromore]

Very very nice - love the grey leather

 

[gixermark]

fabulous.......... i loved mine (longest i ever kept a car) and would have another no bother.........

they do need a strong battery - you can start getting all sorts of warnings appear due to a battery getting low.

that colour is superb... health to enjoy... they really are into bargain territory at this stage i feel.

 

[2.2_Coupe]

Cheers folks!

they really are into bargain territory at this stage i feel.

I agree - I honestly can't see them falling further from grace - I hope to maintain mine for the next few years, and hopefully get out even. Or indeed get an electric car in a few years and shelve this as a toy

 

[chrisdromore]

Seems to be standard behaviour of BMW’s that era. Dodgy voltage regulator and the whole car spits the dummy out.

fabulous.......... i loved mine (longest i ever kept a car) and would have another no bother.........

they do need a strong battery - you can start getting all sorts of warnings appear due to a battery getting low.

that colour is superb... health to enjoy... they really are into bargain territory at this stage i feel.

 

[TheDaniel]

I saw this on instagram and only twigged the other day that it was yours! Unreal machine. Health to make V8 noises!

 

[2.2_Coupe]

Primary test pipes landed today, this'll be interesting if nothing else lol.

I keep watching this, and find myself torn between needing this induction note, and not being broke to the tune of 2k.